How to pronounce dernier
Say it like DUR-nyay. Dernier has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (DUR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce dernier. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- DUR
- nyay
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Dernier pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- DURSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ur" in nurse.
- nyayKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of dernier
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: DUR-nyay.
What does dernier mean?
- Final, last.
Where does dernier come from?
Borrowed from French dernier, a contraction of derrenier, from Old French derrain (“final, last”) (by analogy with premier), from Vulgar Latin *dēretrānus, from Latin dē (“from, away from”) + retrō (“back; backwards; behind”) + -ānus (“of or pertaining to”).
Questions about saying dernier
How do you pronounce dernier?
Say DUR-nyay. The American pronunciation is /ˈdɝnjeɪ/. In British English it is /ˈdɜːnjeɪ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in dernier?
Dernier has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (DUR). Broken into parts: DUR · nyay.
Is dernier pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /ˈdɜːnjeɪ/ (DUR-nyay).